edition-dw-akademie-in-the-service-of-the-public-functions-and-transformation-of-media-in-developing-countries-pdf

and that the present situation of the Kyrgyz media sector isunacceptable. The clash here, it is evident, is not so much oneof objectives as of leverage and loyalties. 93There is little doubt that Mr. Zhumagulov is a man wellqualified for the post. He is a journalist with many years’ experience,served as a press advisor to President Kurmanbek Bakiyev,and managed Radio Azattyk for three years. He recentlyspent several months on secondment with the BBC in London.His was nonetheless most likely a political appointment andsymptomatic of the contradiction at the heart of Kyrgyz mediamedia politics between the freedom of press and expressionas laid out in the constitution and to a certain degree by law,and the extent to which this freedom of expression is disregardedby daily politics.None of the public media outlets show any evidence ofinvestigative reporting or programming, nor of independentinitiative that might be regarded as agenda-setting. This is anarea that is, by general admission, sorely underdeveloped inthe media sector of the Kyrgyz Republic. This is in part dueto the unwillingness of journalists to expose themselves tothe repercussions that invariably follow. Online media outletssuch as Kloop or 24.kg provide users with “lively alternativenews sources,” but online penetration within the Kyrgyzpopulation is only around 22%. And: “Around half of usersreached the internet through the state-controlled ISP Kyrgyztelecom,creating the potential for government influence overthe medium.” 94Supporting IntegrationSince the ethnic strife of June 2010, Uzbek outlets have disappearedalmost entirely from the Kyrgyz media sector. Uzbeksmake up around 14% of the population as a whole, but thisproportion climbs to around 40% in the southern regions,where ethnic tension remains close to the surface. Other ethnicities(as well as Kyrgyz, of course) are Russian, Ukrainian,Dungan and Uyghur (each around 1%). 95 None of these minoritieshas much access to news and information, certainlynot in their own languages. But the Broadcasting Act imposesno restriction on retransmission, so Russian, Chinese, Kazakhand some English programs are rebroadcast. Foreign channelsare made available and in the south, Tajik and Uzbekbroadcasters can be picked up within Kyrgyzstan. 96 Audiencesreceive programs in Bishkek and Osh via cable networks, inmore rural areas satellite reception is preferred for the bettersignal. Internet access is as yet poor but continues to expandrapidly, and although there are occasional attempts to controlor even block access to certain websites, access is for the mostpart completely unrestricted.OTRK is available nationwide and has three TV channels (amain channel, a music channel and a kids’ channel) with some80 programs (a fourth channel, cultural, is in the planningstages). There are five radio channels. The main broadcastinglanguages are Russian and Kyrgyz with a sprinkling of English.On the main TV channel, there is an irregular and far too shortnews bulletin, there are films, documentaries and talk shows.Like many broadcasters, OTRK puts its money primarily onentertainment. The introduction of the children’s programming,in particular, is innovative for Kyrgyzstan and widelywelcomed as “an important step.” 97 Balastan, according to thebroadcaster’s (English-language) PR, “provides parents andkids with educational entertainment, from singing and dancingto birthday wishes and bedtime stories.” 98A tentative attempt to reach out to ethnic minorities can beseen in OTRK’s offshoot, Radio Dostuk (Friendship), started upin October 2013. A tiny outfit run by seven part-time staff membersout of a small office with three or four computers, RadioFriendship is still just an online presence. They put togetherhalf an hour per week of programming for each of the minoritylanguages Dungan, Uyghur, Ukrainian and even Polish, as wellas Kyrgyz and Russian. 99 Uzbek is at present not one of the languageson the program. In addition to these they hope to add afurther four languages – this had not yet happened at the timeof writing. To make the programs, a representative is selectedfrom each of the relevant communities in Bishkek and this person– usually someone with absolutely no journalistic trainingor experience – is then offered minimal training at OTRK.Each representative will hold the post for a year. There is littleeditorial control, since hardly anyone else can speak the languagesconcerned. The lack of Uzbek-language programminghere, as elsewhere, is a glaring omission since Uzbeks make uparound 14% of the population as a whole, in the south around40%. According to a source at OTRK, the Uzbek representativeswanted too much money. A statement from the Uzbek sidecould not be obtained for this study.There are certainly hopes of expansion, the staff would liketo branch out with an FM station, possibly even, eventually,into TV. However the equipment is noticeably is noticeablyoutdated and the staff complain that there is not enough moneyeven for their own salaries. OTRK is to date their only sourceof finance and this is obviously not a budget priority. They saythey are attempting to attract funds from foreign partners.OTRK is currently piloting the use of mobile applicationsand social media for its programming.Achievements and ChallengesThe “poor economic health of the market” 100 is one of the mainproblems dogging the development of PSM in Kyrgyzstan.Real budget transparency is rare (OTRK is probably the mainexception as the Supervisory Board demands it and a full publishedaudit is part of editorial policy). 101 Therefore potentialinvestors are reluctant to cooperate because the perceptionis still that most outlets are state-run or private mouthpieces.Media management has to become even more of a focus.Revenue and budget-planning need to improve so that outletsbecome more independent and self-sustaining. 102 Journalistsneed to be better paid so that they don’t go elsewhere – eitherinto other sectors or abroad – as soon as they become decently62